Why can’t you put the line underground?

In older neighborhoods with overhead lines, placing lines underground is difficult and expensive. Many trees are already well established. Placing power lines underground would require Umatilla Electric Cooperative to dig into the roots of the trees, possibly causing immediate harm and making them susceptible to disease.

Converting overhead facilities to underground requires considerable trenching of existing pavement, roads, or other structures. Placing lines underground can cost many times more than what it costs to install power lines overhead.